Fargo looks past the top line scores and goes deep into the box scores to get a better picture of what really happened for all of the FBS games the past weekend.
UNC 20, CLT 3
North Carolina had a better matchup this week but the offense managed only 303 total yards against a Charlotte defense that gave up 586 yards in its opener against Appalachian St. The Tar Heels defense was the difference as they held the 49ers to 271 total yards including 21 yards rushing on 29 carries (0.7 ypc). Charlotte did throw for 250 yards but tossed two interceptions on their final two drives including one at the North Carolina nine-yard line. The 49ers were 0-3 in the redzone.
ARMY 24, KSU 21
Kansas St. jumped out to a 13-0 lead but the Black Knights went 75 yards in 2:25 and scored a touchdown as time expired before halftime. They then took the lead late in the third quarter but the Wildcats got it right back returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown but Army won the fourth quarter 10-0. The Wildcats were held to just 246 yards of offense as Army ran 39 more plays and held the ball for over 40 minutes. Kansas St. had the ball for a total of 3:01 in the second half.
HOU 35, RICE 9
After a scoreless first quarter, Rice struck first with a field goal but Houston grabbed the lead right before halftime on a 54-yard touchdown run. Following a Cougars pick six, Rice cut the lead back to two possessions early in the fourth quarter but Houston tacked on two more scores for the lopsided win. The new option offense for Rice could not get going as it rushed for 177 yards on 53 carries (3.3 ypc) while committing two turnovers. Houston was balanced with 204 yards rushing and 188 yards passing.
TOL 45, WKU 21
Toledo took a 14-0 lead as it recovered a fumble two plays into the game and scored three plays later and then returned an interception for a touchdown three plays after that. The Hilltoppers got it back to a touchdown deficit but the Rockets scored 24 unanswered points to go up 45-7. Toledo outgained Western Kentucky 508-333 and one-third of those Hilltoppers yards came late in garbage time. The Rockets rushed for 307 yards on 42 carries (7.3 ypc) and overall put up 8.1 yppl.
MEM 38, GAST 16
Georgia St. entered the second quarter with a 9-7 lead and it went back and forth with Memphis taking the lead at the half with a 54-yard field goal as time expired. The Tigers dominated the second half as they outscored the Panthers 21-0 while winning the yardage battle 204-86. Georgia St. did throw for 340 yards but rushed for only 49 yards on 27 carries (1.8 ypc) while committing nine penalties. It was a balanced attack for Memphis, rushing for 205 yards and passing for 196 yards.
TULN 33, USA 31
South Alabama jumped out to a 14-0 lead that included matching fumbles in-between the two touchdowns but Tulane then went on a 33-3 run that included scores on five straight possessions before South Alabama tacked on another pair of touchdowns for the backdoor. The Jaguars then failed to recover the onside kick to fall short. The Green Wave had the ball for nine more minutes but were outgained 421-406 as they were penalized 11 times for 87 yards and averaged just 5.6 yppl.
AUB 42, BALL 3
The score is indicative of the Auburn domination as the Tigers outgained Ball St. 495-68. The Cardinals got down to the Auburn 35-yard line in the first quarter which accounted for 53 of those total yards but fumbled and their only other drive into Auburn territory was because of a recovered fumble at the Tigers 23-yard line and that resulted in a 22-yard field goal. The Tigers were not perfect however as they had three short possessions resulting in punts and committed eight penalties.
VAN 44, VT 20
Virginia Tech came out of the gate strong as it jumped out to a 10-0 lead and took a 20-10 advantage into halftime and then it was all Vanderbilt. The Commodores put up 154 yards in the first half on just four possessions but racked up 309 yards in the second half in five possessions, scoring touchdowns in all five. The defense was just as dominant as Vanderbilt held the Hokies to 21 yards over the final 30 minutes and the Commodores more than doubled the overall yppl 8.6 to 4.1.
NEB 68, AKR 0
This was complete domination that matches the score as the Huskers outgained Akron 728-175 and the score could have been worse. Nebraska went 77 yards on its opening drive for a touchdown but in its next two possessions, it went 66 yards but fumbled at the Akron one yard line and then went 63 yards and turned it over on downs at the Akron one yard line. The Huskers scored on all of their remaining nine possessions, including eight touchdowns, not counting the two drives at the end of the half and the game.
USC 59, GASO 20
USC took the opening kickoff but fumbled it away three plays later and Georgia Southern took advantage and went 45 yards in three plays to take a 6-0 lead and then the Trojans took over with a 45-7 run. USC outgained the Eagles 755-377 and while they had only two more first downs 28-26, it was due to explosive plays as they averaged a whopping 12 yppl compared to just 4.8 for Georgia Southern. Five of the eight USC touchdown drives were fewer than two minutes and fewer than four plays.
MSU 42, BC 40 (2OT)
Michigan St. got its revenge but after taking a 7-0 lead, it did not lead again until 4:08 remaining in the game and after Boston College tied the game, the Spartans could not get past midfield which forced overtime. The Spartans matched the Eagles in the second overtime and the two-point conversion was the difference. Boston College outgained Spartans 457-380 but were forced to settle for a pair of short field goals while also fumbling the ball into the end zone on their opening drive.
UNLV 30, UCLA 23
UNLV dominated the first half as it opened up a 23-0 lead before UCLA tacked on a field goal right before halftime. The Bruins did make a second half run and cut the lead to 30-23 with 5:25 left and got down to the UNLV 24-yard line on their next drive but were intercepted. UCLA outgained the Rebels but lost the turnover battle 2-0 with the other one being a fumble on their own 44-yard line and that turned into a UNLV touchdown. Additionally, they had 14 penalties for 129 yards.
NMSU 21, TLSA 14
It was a back and forth game throughout with Tulsa taking its final lead on a 75-yard touchdown drive with 7:33 left but New Mexico St. took the kickoff and went 75 yards to retake the lead 21-14. The Golden Hurricane got it back down to the Aggies 41-yard line but threw an interception which pretty much sealed it. New Mexico St. was outgained 375-291 but the defense forced three turnovers including an interception in the second quarter at the six-yard line that halted a 73-yard Tulsa drive.
WSU 36, SDSU 13
Washington St. spotted the Aztecs a 7-0 lead and then ran off 29 consecutive points to pull away late in the third quarter. The Cougars outgained San Diego St. 396-215 but did average only 5.1 yppl although the defense did allow 3.6 yppl. San Diego St. was just 3-17 on third and fourth down and of its 14 possessions, nine resulted in fewer than 10 yards. Despite scoring 36 points, Washington St. had only two drives that were longer than 48 yards and one was a no huddle touchdown drive to end the half.
BYU 27, STAN 3
The BYU defense was the strength of the Cougars as they allowed 161 yards to Stanford including 19 yards rushing on 24 carries (0.8 ypc). 118 of those yards came in the final two possessions in garbage time and the Cardinal entered BYU territory only three times with the first coming by way of a BYU turnover on downs. The Cougars did have an issue on offense as they had 332 yards and averaged only 4.9 yppl while going 5-14 on third down and had to settle for four field goals of 36 yards or less.
HAW 37, SHSU 20
Hawaii forced a three and out to open the game and then marched 78 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead and never relinquished that lead. The Warriors put up 417 yards of offense but did not execute very well as they went 6-17 on third down and were forced into three field goals while committing two turnovers including an interception that was returned for a touchdown. The defense allowed 126 yards in the first eight Bearkats possessions before Sam Houston went 90 yards for a score in garbage time.